Vaughn Palmer: Reassigned Clark appointee asked what would happen to her if the Liberals lost the next election

On a day when Premier Christy Clark acquired her latest director of communications, some documents surfaced regarding the departure of the previous occupant of that transitory posting. The date was Oct. 15 and Clark’s new chief of staff, Dan Doyle, dispatched a letter to Sara MacIntyre advising that her brief stint in the premier’s office was at an end.

Photograph by: Stuart Davis
, PNG

VICTORIA — On a day when Premier Christy Clark acquired her latest director of communications, some documents surfaced regarding the departure of the previous occupant of that transitory posting.

The date was Oct. 15 and Clark’s new chief of staff, Dan Doyle, dispatched a letter to Sara MacIntyre advising that her brief stint in the premier’s office was at an end.

After seven months as Clark’s director of communications, the former press secretary to Prime Minister Stephen Harper was dispatched to the general office for government communications and public engagement or GCPE

Sounding blindsided and bereft, MacIntyre wanted to know more. Her reaction is set out in a series of emails obtained by the New Democratic Party Opposition under access-to-information legislation and made public this week.

“I would like to request some sort of written job description with duties and obligations, reporting structure and terms of employment as well,” wrote MacIntyre in an email to Lynda Tarras, the head of the government personnel agency.

“You will report to Athana Mentzelopoulos,” Tarras replied, referencing the head of GCPE. “The terms and conditions of your employment remain unchanged. Athana will provide you with the specifics of your duties and accountabilities when you report in the morning.”

MacIntyre was not placated. “Respectfully Lynda," she wrote back late on the 15th, “before I make any decisions I would like to see — in writing — a job description.” Clearly shaken by the day’s events, she added: “Do I have any vacation time?” She raised other concerns too, but those were blanked from the release on grounds of personal privacy.

Tarras, via return email, tried to reassure her. “I’m sure you have vacation coming to you,” she wrote shortly after 10 p.m. “Good night and I will be in touch as early as I can tomorrow.”

Next day the head of personnel confirmed that MacIntyre was indeed in line for time off. “This assumes that you remain in our employ for the remainder of the year because, if you were to resign, the balance would need to be prorated.” She faxed along other details, presumably including the job description.

But by the 17th, MacIntyre had other anxieties. “If I stay in this job, what happens to me during the writ?”

The reference is to the writ, formally dissolving the legislature for the final 28 days leading up to the election. Political appointees like MacIntyre are sometimes expected to take a leave of absence and work for the governing party during the writ period. Though not invariably, as Tarras went on to observe.

“Nothing happens during the writ period unless you were to take leave,” she wrote back on the evening of Oct. 17. “You would continue to be paid.”

MacIntyre had raised a second question, posed as a fragment: “And if the Liberals what happens for me financially?” Tarras: “I don’t understand ... And if the Liberals what?” MacIntyre: “If the Liberals lose and my (cabinet appointment) is rescinded, what am I paid?”

Tarras: “I can only offer a general and hypothetical response. When a (cabinet order) is rescinded and an employment relationship is severed without cause — i.e. good record and no misconduct — then an appropriate notice or severance is offered. Of course this does not apply where an employee resigns or where there is any form of employee misconduct.”

Armed with that information, MacIntyre, subsequently reported for duty to GCPE as a senior communications strategist.

Two ironies, worth noting.

First, the head of personnel was communicating with MacIntyre in writing. In handling the ouster of the premier’s chief of staff Ken Boessenkool a month earlier, a process that took two weeks, Tarras handled the matter verbally and put nothing in writing. So said the government when my colleague Jonathan Fowlie filed an access to information request regarding the Boessenkool departure.

Second, given MacIntyre’s expression of fear about the coming election, consider the words of Premier Clark when she hired her as director of communications. “There is no way that Sara MacIntyre would quit a press secretary job to the prime minister to come work for me unless there was every reason to believe we were going to win.”

Onward to the next director of communications, as they say in the premier’s office.

Responsibilities, according to the job description: “Maintaining and enhancing the working relationship between the office of the premier and members of the legislative press gallery and other provincial media. Keeping the office of the premier apprised of emerging issues and events that are of potential interest to provincial media.”

“Ensuring that all media availabilities, scrums and press conferences are conducted in an appropriate manner. Working with GCPE staff to ensure that all information that specifically relates to the office of the premier is coordinated and communicated in an appropriate manner. “

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On a day when Premier Christy Clark acquired her latest director of communications, some documents surfaced regarding the departure of the previous occupant of that transitory posting. The date was Oct. 15 and Clark’s new chief of staff, Dan Doyle, dispatched a letter to Sara MacIntyre advising that her brief stint in the premier’s office was at an end.

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